The Ponkiesblog

Well, I'm back from old-time music in West Virginia and electioneering
in Pennsylvania and celebrating in Washington DC. Happy to be back.
And just plain happy.

And ready to see some music. Let's start with tonight, when Jonah
Bruno and Dennis Lichtman play the Delta Grill in Hell's Kitchen, oh
pardon me, Clinton. The Havens are at Sidewalk, and a band called
Viva! is at Sunny's. Tone says, "Anybody that likes to see girls rock
out, this is the show for you!"

Tomorrow, you can have some great French Toast at Nolita House while
listening to Andrew and Nancy Hunt, along with guest Jonah Bruno.
There's a lot more than that on the menu though, so go back on Sunday
to catch Fresh Baked.

Saturday night, Katy Rose Cox comes back to Brooklyn for a gig with
Shotgun Party at 68 Jay Street. They happened to be playing West
Virginia when I was out there and I caught the show -- they rocked a
room full of strangers in a little mountain town. They'll also be
playing the brunch at Superfine on Sunday.

Saturday night, John Pinamonti will be playing Freddy's, followed by
Gary Keennan's American String Conspiracy. Charlie Shaw will be
barefootin' on drums the whole night so you know it will be a rocking
time. Afterwards, head on down to Sunny's.

We'll be jamming at Kili on Sunday, as well as at Paddy Reilly's, plus
that night there are some Exceedingly Good Songs at Banjo Jim's. The
slow jam will be at Paddy Reilly's on Monday, and then on Tuesday
there's a very special Veteran's Day show at the All Souls Unitarian
Church in Manhattan: "The Young, the Tender and the Brave: Music of
Courage and Loss in Wartime." Classic songs from the Civil War
onwards, performed by a bunch of great performers.

The jam at the Underground Lounge, on the Upper West Side, is on Monday nights, not Wednesdays, at 9pm. It was right in the newsletter but wrong in the calendar.

Also, the Ragpickers are playing at Sunny's on Friday, with Walter Wells on bass, Michael Pasternak on mandolin, Brett Laden on guitar and Jane Gallo on Dobro.

Finally, a few more things happening at Jalopy this weekend: Saturday night, the film AND THIS IS FREE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MAXWELL STREET is being shown, a great documentary about Chicago blues as played for tips at the famous street market; Saturday night, Eli Smith plays old-time, blues and country, followed by prewar blues master Pat Conte; on Sunday afternoon, a Carter Family workshop led by Hannah Marcus, at 1pm.

Sorry for the confusion! The calendar is also updated, as always.

Sorry to be late this week, but I spent yesterday working with power
tools instead of newsletters.

Tonight, we have two great events. There's an Octoberfest old-time
spectacular at Jalopy, with Kari Denis and Michelle Yu on fiddle, Joe
Costa on banjo and Rog Grossman on bass, plus Andy Mulle calling some
squares! It's a Clifftop/Ashokan reunion and should be great fun.

Plus, over at Freddy's, there's the Kings County Opry, featuring the
new lineup of Good Greasy and Baked plus the South Slope String Band,
and starting off with the song circle featuring Ebie Carter with Dock
Oscar, Teri Ann McLean and the return of Josh Saunders.

Back at Jalopy on Friday night, there's a rocking bluegrass
doubleheader, with the Five Deadly Venoms and Astrograss. Meanwhile
there's old-time at the Good Coffeehouse with Jody Kruskal and Paul
Friedman. Plus the usual weekend brunches and jams.

Monday night The Havens are at the Parkside, there's the weekly jam at
Jalopy, and a new jam hosted by Pete Elegant uptown at the Underground
Lounge, 106th and Broadway, in the back room.

Check out the full calendar!

What? October? How'd that happen? Don't worry, play bluegrass. Join
the Sheriff at the Good Times Jam at the Grizzly Pear, or stop by the
Angel Band jam in Park Slope. Or you can play some gypsy jazz with
Franglais.

Also tonight Rob Hecht plays the Bowery Ballroom with Sonya Kitchell
and Brad Barr, Willy Scott and Wiley Worth are at 68 Jay Street, and
Roots&Ruckus is at Jalopy.

Tomorrow night you can watch Sarah Palin embarrass herself (and all of
us) in good company, at the Housing Works Bookstore, where the Jones
Street Boys are having a special Live From Down Home night. They'll
perform at 8, the music will pause for the VP debate at 9, and then
the Junior League Band performs afterwards.

Also tomorrow night, Rob Hecht is playing at Barbes with Matuto, and
Alex brings his Whiskey Rebellion to Hill Country. Sean Kershaw is
playing late at Banjo Jim's, and even later, you can get a rare sight
of Geoff Wiley on his own stage, as he plays a set at Jalopy starting
at 11.

Closer to home (well, my home, anyway), there's the monthly old-time
jam at Freddy's on Thursday night as well.

Friday night is bluegrass at Jalopy, featuring Royal Pine at 9 and
Doug Hatt's Fresh Baked at 10.30, with Charles Puckette, Diane
Stockwell, David Mignano and me on harmonica.

Also Friday, the Good Coffeehouse features Appalachian banjo player
and balladeer Brett Ratliff, along with members of the Clack Mountain
String Band. You can catch the full CMSB, from Kentucky, at the
Greenpoint Autumn Square Dance on Saturday evening.

The Havens have their first album coming out and are celebrating it at
Freddy's on Saturday night, while Smokey Hormel plays at Jalopy. And
of course there will be a jam at Sunny's, where Smokey plays every
Wednesday for an indeterminate period.

Sunday we'll be pickin at Kili, and afterwards you can get some dinner
on Atlantic Avenue and keep walking down to Hank's where Jamie Lyn
plays at 10.

But I don't know if I'll be up that late because on Sunday I'm getting
up very early for the BikeMS charity ride, in support of the NY
chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. You can donate to
them through my ride page at:

http://msnyc.kintera.org/bikems/kenficara

Monday night, Trip and Emily do a set ahead of Michael Daves' monthly
jam at the Parkside, and in Brooklyn there's the jam at Jalopy.

Also next week, Boo and Elena are hosting a Woody Guthrie tribute at
Banjo Jim's on Wednesday night. More details next week but you might
want to put that on your calendar.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send
your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier
pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

Check the calendar for updates and details!

It's actually fall, which means you probably want to be inside with
some good hot music. And as usual you have plenty of opportunities.

Note that there is no Whiskey Wednesday tonight, because 68 Jay Street
is being renovated, but when it returns it will be a much larger venue,
so that's good news. Instead, Will Scott will be at Two Boots on
Friday and the Dumbo Arts Festival (in front of 68 Jay) on Saturday.

Other than that the usual jams are happening tonight, plus Smokey
Hormel is a tSunny's and the Havens are at Trash Bar in Williamsburg.
Tomorrow night the Jones Street Boys play Union Hall, and the
CashHank will be on at Buttermilk, while Rob Hecht plays a midnight
show at Rockwood. Also on Thursday, Jalopy has a HELL of a blues
doubleheader, with the mighty-voiced Bob Guida opening for Ann
Rabson, of Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women. She's pretty amazing on
both piano and guitar; that will be a hell of a show.

Saturday night Jamie Lyn brings a flight of Honky Tonk Angels to
Banjo Jim's, plus there will be a jam at Sunny's.

Also, on October 5, I will be doing the BikeMS charity ride, in
support of the NY chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
You can donate to them through my ride page at:

http://msnyc.kintera.org/bikems/kenficara

Sorry to be late with the newsletter this week, but my summer ended
with a bang (a good one), so I'm just getting to it now. There's a
lot going on so listen carefully, I'm only going to read this list
once.

The holiday weekend is coming up but except as noted below, most of
the usual events are happening, for those who know that the city is a
GREAT place to be on a holiday weekend.

**SPECIAL NOTE**: The country blues jam at Jalopy is cancelled this
Monday, because of the Labor Day holiday, but it will be back next
week.

There's a bit of a fall nip in the air tonight, so come in out of the night chill and see some music. There's plenty of it! Read on for details of all the shows this weekend.

So, it's hot and sticky, but hey, it's cooler than it was on the Walsh
Farm this weekend, and you have more shelter from the rain. And you
can even get some sleep! So there's no excuse not to be out seeing
some music.

Tonight, the usual collection of weekly events -- the Sheriff's Good Time Jam at the Grizzly Pear, Roots & Ruckus at Jalopy, the Angel Band Jam at Vin Rouge, Franglais at Bar Reis, and Will Scott and Wylie Wirth at 68 Jay Street. Tonight is also Smokey Hormel's last Wednesday at Sunny's for a while, and Reckon So is at the Rodeo Bar.

Tomorrow night, you have a great choice of events, some outside. Thufferin Thuccotash, Thlomo Pethtcoe'th band, will play traditional music for thocializing and danthing under the thtars, at Cobble Hill Park. It's almost a Brooklyn roots-music supergroup, featuring not only Shlomo but Trip Henderson, Bob Jones, Peter Kohman and Peter Ford on the single-string box bass.

Tomorrow is the last Thursday of the month, so there will be a CasHank in Park Slope at Buttermilk. A few blocks up Fifth Avenue, John Pinamonti and a few other bands will be at Southpaw for Burrow Magazine's launch party. Burrow (www.burrowmag.com) is a new arts and literary publication based in Brooklyn. Admission is $15 but you get a copy of the magazine so you can support literature, the arts, and music all at once. Meanwhile in Manhattan, the Jones Street Boys kick off a monthly celebration of roots music at the Housing Works Bookstore. It's a great store and a cause well worth supporting, and bring your instruments, because there will be a jam afterwards. And the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Dixie Hummingbirds will be playing in Prospect Park. Whatever you choose to do, afterwards you can catch Rob, Tuey, Ross and Jim playing their no-doubt-amazing Hectograss at Rockwood.

Got all that? And it's not even the weekend yet. Friday night, Jonah and Jordan and the South Slope String Band will be at Freddy's, and Mamie Minch does a midnight show at Barbes. Andy Mullen plays at Spike Hill in Williamsburg; we had a GREAT time on Monday night so come on down and square dance and yell "Good luck!"

Saturday is curiously quiet so far, but there will be jamming at Sunny's and brunch at Nolita House. On Sunday, Jonah Bruno will join Fresh Baked at Nolita House, and from there it's just a block or so to National Underground, where Jamie Lyn will be playing from 3-6.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion. In addition to this email newsletter, these updates and more are published on our blog, the Ponkiesblog. See below for details.

Greetings from Wind Gap, where we have been happy to inform people that yes, Brooklyn does have bluegrass. A quick update:

Tonight's Y'all Stars show at Googie's is, to quote Fran, their LAST SHOW TIL LATE AUGUST! So if you'd like to see them before the legendary dog days, tonight's the night. Plus, they're preceded by Whistlin' Rufus, featuring the "better than average" harmonica playing of Trip Henderson, the award-winning whistling of Emily Eagen, along with Spiff Weigand and Chris Murphy. Trip says it's "the best harmonica/ukulele/fiddle/guitar/whistling/banjo/jew's-harp/mandolin/bass/vocal harmony group I know of," and we wouldn't doubt it.

Sorry for the confusion if you came to the jam at noon last week. But we're back to our normal time this week, although I'll be hosting in place of Brad, who'll either still be at Wind Gap, or recovering from it.

If you won't be at the festival this weekend you won't lack for good music. Smokey Hormel is at Barbes on Friday night (and at Sunny's tonight), Alex Battles is at Hill Country, and Mamie Minch will be playing a midnight show every Friday in June at Barbes.

Saturday, the Y'all Stars are at Googies, Peter Stampfel (ex-Holy Modal Rounders) is at Jalopy, and John Pinamonti is at Freddy's. And on Sunday you have two brunch choices, Dock Oscar at Superfine and Fresh Baked at Nolita House. Fresh Baked is also at Abilene on Tuesday night.

The Pickin' Party will start early this Sunday to coincide with the Art Walk -- Kili will open at noon, and we'll jam from then until about 3 p.m. This change is for Sunday, June 8, only.

This Sunday, June 8, you have two rare and wonderful opportunities at once, or rather, in close succession. Jen Larson, Fran Leadon, and Charles Puckette get together *maybe* twice a year, and sing trio harmonies that will knock your socks off. They're now calling themselves the Bluebirds of Happiness, no doubt in reference to the joyful songs of melancholy, misery and loss (not to speak of the odd double suicide) that they favor. That alone would be a must-see, but they're opening for the Plunk Brothers. That's Bob Jones, Dr. Frets himself, veteran of you don't want to know how many stages, and Boo Reiners, of the Demolition String Band. They're both top-notch guitarists, and they get together (not often enough) and do a set of standards by people like Doc Watson, the Delmore Brothers, and the like. The playing is just unbelievable and the fun they're having is infectious. You need to be at Jalopy on Sunday to see this. Really.

Much more below, or see the calendar for the latest updates.

The big news this week is Wretched Refuse. No, the sanitation workers haven't gone on strike again, it's a reunion of the infamous string- band run by the one and only Citizen Kafka. They take over Jalopy on Friday night and it'll be some show. Kenny Kosek, Jon Sholle, Bob Jones, Marty Confurious, Marty Cutler, Larry Eagle, Barry Mitterhoff -- it's going to be an all-star madhouse, so get there early, find a seat and hang on. There are two shows so if you want to stay for the late one you'll have to cough up another $10, but these guys are worth a sawbuck and then some.

The night before at Jalopy, Andy Mullen will be playing. He's a wonderful singer-songwriter who you might have caught at Jalopy a few months back with Adam Buchwald in a band called Dance All Night. Along with his Outfit (Kari Denis, Roger Grossman, Daniel Correau, and me), he'll be playing mostly originals, but they're all influenced by old-time tunes and we'll be throwing in some traditional numbers, and he'll almost certainly call a square dance. We're playing Thursday night at Jalopy and then Saturday night at the Parkside, and his new album, THE TOENAIL JAR, is available FREE at his web site: http://www.andymullenmusic.com -- yes, FREE. Complete with a great CD booklet.

Speaking of new albums and original songwriters, I dropped by Union Hall last night for Mamie Minch's release party for her new album, RAZORBURN BLUES. It's a great disc, half originals, one Roulette Sisters tune, and a half-dozen kickass blues covers, all in a handmade cover that she produced on a vintage letterpress machine. And a wooden nickel to boot! I'm not sure if she's selling it online but she'll be at Googie's on Saturday night along with the Otis Brothers, the East River String Band, and Feral Foster.

Also Saturday night, Brad Einhorn will bring his Kings County Strings to the Parkside, following Andy Mullen's show Their first show at Banjo Jim's last month was outstanding, so it should be a fun night. He's got Kari on fiddle, Matt Check on banjo, the amazing Joel Turoff on guitar, and Jeff Ratner on bass.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the last Thursday, so there'll be a CashHank at Buttermilk, and Monday is the first Monday, so Michael Daves's jam will be at the Parkside. Fresh Baked is at Abilene on Tuesday night, and tonight and next Wednesday there is of course the Sheriff's jam, now at the Grizzly Pear, Franglais at Bar Reis, Will Scott and Wylie Wirth at 68 Jay Street, and Roots&Ruckus at Jalopy.

Finally, you'll see below that Mojo is back, although he's slipping -- there's an actual capital letter at the start of his missive and some markings that might be punctuation, or might just be digital schmutz. In any case, Mojo, welcome back.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion. In addition to this email newsletter, these updates and more are published on our blog, the Ponkiesblog. See the calendar for updated details.

Tonight the Sheriff's jam moves to its new location, The Grizzly Pear, 108 MacDougal St, between Bleecker and Third. So we have to stop calling it "the Baggot" because it isn't anymore. Hopefully the pipes are sturdier at this new place. Meanwhile, I heard a rumor that Smokey Hormel will be at Sunny's tonight.

Tomorrow night is the King's County Opry, with Fred's new version of Copper Kettle and the newly christened Cat Wagon: Melody Berger, Zara Bode, Hilary Hawke and Nora Jane Struthers. Hilary will also be in the song circle along with Nate Schwewber and Dock Oscar with Ebie Carter.

Hilary is playing in Dumbo on Saturday night, while the Y'all Stars and Miz Liz and the Vipers are at Googie's. At Jalopy, Caroline Cutroneo's Runaway Train will make a stop. Caroline is a gifted singer/songwriter from Staten Island with whom I play sometimes, and the Runaway Train is a kickin' electric blues/rock band. I may bring down the crunchy little amp I bought at Retrofret a little while ago.

Trip Henderson "and friends" are at the Parkside on Monday, and on Tuesday night you have a double shot at Rockwood: Michael Daves' usual weekly set, followed by Rob Hecht's Hectrograss.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

An updated calendar is on the web site.

The big news is that tonight is the last night at the Baggot Inn for Sheriff Uncle Bob's Good Time jam, which is the longest-running jam in the city. But fear not, it's just moving, not stopping, and next Wednesday you'll find it right around the corner at the The Grizzly Pear, 108 MacDougal St, between Bleecker and Third. The Sheriff says his first encounter with this bar was in 1959, in the company with Wavy Gravy (beat poet Hugh Romney).

Speaking of Wavy Gravy, he'll be hosting an all-star tribute to Odetta tomorrow night at Banjo Jim's. Odetta will be there in person, singing and leading the finale, and appearing there will be David Amram, Cheatin' Hearts with Sheriff Bob and Trip Henderson, Guy Davis, Timothy Hill, Emory Joseph, Christine Lavin, Madeleine Peyroux, Chaney Sims, Vincent Cross and Good Company with many special surprise guests! Should be a pretty unforgettable night but bring your billfold -- $25 at the door, no advance tickets, doors open at 7 and show starts at 8.

Meanwhile on our side of the river, Jonah Bruno will be picking banjo with the South Slope String Band, from 8:30 to 10:30 tonight, at Bar BQ in Park Slope, and Monica Smith will be playing gypsy jazz with Franglais a bit further north in the Slope.

Also on Thursday night, Peter Stampfel, founding member of the Fugs and the Holy Model Rounders, will be at Jalopy.

James Reams and the Barnstormers will be at the Good Coffeehouse in Park Slope on Friday night, and then will play a square dance in Battery Park City on Saturday afternoon. Shotgun Party, the Austin band featuring Katy Cox, who used to play at many of our jams, will be in town for two shows, Friday night at Banjo Jim's and Saturday night at the 68 Jay Street Bar in Dumbo. Also Saturday night, Mamie Minch is playing Barbes, and Smokey Hormel will be at Jalopy. (He's at Barbes also, on Friday night.)

Check the calendar for up-to-date details.

Happy May Day, bluegrass comrades. In celebration of the holiday, there will be a workers' rally, er, jam, at Freddy's tonight. (The holiday, of course, being First Thursday, which happens every month.)

Also note that the Jalopy country blues jam that used to be on Thursdays, is now on Mondays. So there's no jam there tonight (it's a folk-music/comedy night instead), and the country blues jam will be on Monday, May 5.

Tomorrow night, John Pinamonti is at Sunny's, and then on Saturday it's time for Adam Nash's Bluegrass Saturday Night, this time with Melody Berger, Copper Kettle, Blue Harvest and the Five Deadly Venoms, followed by a late-night jam.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion. For the latest information, visit the calendar page on the web site.

It's Wednesday, it's spring, and this is the first newsletter of the year to be assembled while sitting outside. Once the sun goes down and it gets dark, it'll be time to go inside and see some music. Will Scott and Wylie Wirth will be at the 68 Jay St Bar tonight (you have to figure out the address on your own) and Franglais will be playing a set of gypsy jazz at Bar Reis in Park Slope, followed by what is said to be the only weekly gypsy jazz jam in the city. Last week they had a push-up contest so get your biceps over there. Or, for more traditional jamming, head to the Baggott where the Sheriff will be presiding. Also tonight, Reckon So is at the Rodeo Bar.

Thursday night is the CashHank, while Monica "Li'l Mo" Passin will be at Banjo Jim's and Vincent Cross at Hill Country.

Friday night is another "What to do? What to do?" night with a heck of a triple bill at Jalopy: John Pinamonti, the Woes, and the Jug Addicts, while Hogzilla plays at Sunny's. On Saturday Andy Mullen will be playing his old-time flavored originals at Pete's Candy Store, with Roger Grossman on bass, Kari Denis on fiddle, and me on harmonica. Andy writes great songs and I'm looking forward to it. Meanwhile Vincent Cross and Good Company, featuring Good Companion Jonah Bruno on banjo, will be playing in Long Island City.

We'll be picking as usual at Kili on Sunday, as will Tony at Paddy Reilly's, and if you can't keep up with Tony, you can go to the Paddy Reilly's slow jam on Monday night.

See the calendar for the latest details.

I'm playing Tony Trischka's "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular" album as I write, in preparation for the five-string festivities at Banjo Jim's tonight. It looks to be not only an entertaining but an educational evening, especially with Shlomo no doubt already packing a moving van with examples of every step in the instrument's evolution over the century.

This week is just overwhelmingly full of good music, so take a deep breath and read on...

The Pickin' Party is on as usual at Kili Sunday, but I'll be hosting it this week with Kari Denis, and we'll be playing old-time style, with some beautiful tunes and songs. Come on down and bring some songs to learn, or sit with us and learn some new old songs. We'll have some music to work from if that makes you more comfortable and we won't be going too fast.

It's the weekend already, isn't it? And about time! Enough time-wasting at work! Time to get out and get serious about seeing some music. Start tonight -- as usual you have your choice of things to do. Sunny's tonight starts with old-time, with the Half-Baked Beans String Band at 8:30. That's Nate Rowan, Kari Denis, Joel Wennerstrom, Charlie Shaw and Peter Kohman. Charlie and Peter will then change instruments and genres, and play with John Pinamonti who goes on at 10. You've also got Blue Harvest at Googies, a great Roots&Blues Roundup at Jalopy with the Second Fiddles, the Cangelosi Cards, and the Cheatin' Hearts, and Alex's Whisky Rebellion at Banjo Jim's.

On to Saturday! Adam Levy's first Bluegrass Saturday Night hits Banjo Jim's with a series of great bands including The Eversole Family Band, Vincent Cross, and Kings County Strings, Brad Einhorn's new band. All Night Cooking wraps it up at 10:30 with two sets. Meanwhile back on our side of the river James Reams barnstorms Jalopy and the Mud Brothers play the Living Room Lounge in Brooklyn (NOT the LES Living Room).

Monday during the day you can rest at work, then get over to the Parkside to see the Sheriff's Cheatin' Hearts followed by Michael Daves' bluegrass jam. Michael Daves is at Rockwood as usual on Tuesday night, and Fresh Baked is at Abilene.

A word on some jam changes. The Saturday jam in Williamsburg is no longer happening, we're told by Stan Baum. The folks running it lost their lease and moved back home. Also no longer happening is Anina's First Friday jam -- it's either dead, or in a coma, but either way it won't be happening tonight.

The Pickin' Party will happen as usual at Kili on Sunday. If the venue changes we'll let everyone know at least a week in advance.

See the updated calendar here.

Please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

Susan Batkin got back to us about the new Monday jam at Paddy Reilly's. It's the second and fourth Monday of the month, so the next one will be on April 14. She says, "You should attend this meetup if you play: banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle or bass. This is a SLOW JAM -- meant for advanced beginning and intermediate players." You can read more here:

http://banjo.meetup.com/56/calendar/7597170/

Melody also wanted to plug the Greensky Bluegrass Band, a Michigan band that will be at the Parkside tonight at 8. They're "nice boys, Telluride Festival winners and all that," she says. Formed in 2000, they did in fact win the Festival Band Competition at Telluride in 2006, and have shared bills with Ralph Stanley, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, Sam Bush and King Wilkie. Stop by and let them know what kind of bluegrass fans we have in NYC.

Tomorrow night Kari Denis and Rob Hecht will be doing a fiddle duo show at Rockwood, 7pm. Also tomorrow, Lindy Loo and Cell Block Seven will be at the Rodeo Bar at 10.

Jonah Bruno's South Slope String Band will be at Bar BQ in Park Slope on Wednesday, from about 8:30 to 11 or so, and Jonah will also be playing Shel Silverstein tunes with Astrograss For Kids at the Donnell Library on Saturday at 2:30, celebrating Shel's first poetry collection. Details on this and everything else are below in the calendar.

Lots of stuff going on later in the week, most notably Adam Nash's Bluegrass Saturday Night, four great bands at Banjo Jim's starting at 7pm: The Eversole Family Band, Vincent Cross and Good Company, Brad Einhorn's new project, Kings County Strings (not just a store, but also a band!), and All Night Cooking. Let's make sure to get out and support this new event.

As always please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion. In addition to this email newsletter, these updates and more are published on our blog, the Ponkiesblog. See below for details.

The Pickin' Party is back this week after our spring break -- you shoulda seen it. Mandolins Gone Wild. It's not a pretty sight. But you can drink and sing it off your mind at any number of places this week, including the CashHank tomorrow night, Sunny's on Saturday, and of course Kili on Sunday. (Or Paddy Reilly's if you prefer the outer boroughs.)

Keep an eye out for Tom Petty's new album with Mudcrutch, his band before the Heartbreakers. It's coming out in late April, recorded live in the studio, and includes Benmont Tench and Mike Campell, as well as original band members Randall Marsh and Tom Leadon, whose older brother was in the Eagles and whose youngest brother has been known to frequent Brooklyn jams now and again.

And speaking of new albums, Copper Kettle's new album, "Poison On Your Mind," is now available on CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/copperkettle2

On the radio, Carol Beaugard will be interviewing Bill Evans, saxophonist and leader of Soulgrass, on her show, Lonesome Pine RFD, on WFDU, 89.1, Friday at 10:15 am, followed by an interview with Wayne Bledsoe, editor of Bluegrass Now.

As always please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion. In addition to this email newsletter, these updates and more are published on our blog, the Ponkiesblog. See below for details.

Special update: There will be no Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party this week, because of the Easter holiday. We'll be back on Sunday the 31st. Once again:

NO JAM AT KILI ON SUNDAY, MARCH 24. JAM RESUMES ON MARCH 31.

The Wednesday newsletter is coming out on Wednesday this week. In time to remind you that the Wahoo String Band is playing tonight in the East Village -- this is a rare reunion of a great old-time band with Harry Bolick, Brian Slattery and Joseph Dejarnette. They'll be at Old Devil Moon at 12th St and Avenue A.

Tomorrow night, Thursday, is the Kings County Opry at Freddy's, with Nick Beaudoing, Vincent Cross and Good Company, and the song circle with Sammo, Matt Wissler and Dock Oscar.

Friday night Rob Hecht's Hechtograss plays the Bowery Ballroom, Norden Bombsight (not sure who he is but he got rich during the war, I believe) is at Sunny's, and Smokey Hormel is at Bar Bes. (He's also at Sunny's every Wednesday at 9.)

Saturday's a big night with Hogzilla at Southpaw, the Y'All Stars at Googies, and Michael Daves at Jalopy. Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy is also at the Baggott Inn the same night. And of course we'll be jamming at Sunny's.

Rob Hecht is back again on Monday, this time at the Parkside, and there's a special treat on Tuesday as the Honky Tonk Angels descend on Galapagos. Jamie Lynn and the Red Tail Hawk Band, Corrie Beth, Jessica Rose and the High Life, and Hogzilla, along with special non-angel guest Sean Kershaw. Also on Tuesday Rob Hecht is at Banjo Jim's and Trip Henderson and the Second Fiddles are at the Rodeo Bar. This is New York, folks, too much to do on a Tuesday! Gotta love it.

As always please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

Sorry this one is so late, but I spent two days at a conference in Hershey, PA, and it took a few days to recover from the chocolate overdose. But that's all cleared up and there's a lot going on for the weekend.

The Second Fiddles are at Bar Bes tonight, and as always Lennie's eclectic jam is happening tonight. Bob Guida's alter ego Raoul Otis will be at Jalopy tomorrow night with Steve Uhrik, Peter Kohman and Mike Saccolitti -- a pretty stellar lineup. Hogzilla is at the Parkside on Monday night and remember there's always good bluegrass there on Monday nights.

On Wednesday we have a rare old-time treat -- Harry Bolick brings his Wahoo String Band to Old Devil Moon in Manhattan. Great "new-timey" music as he calls it (lots of original tunes) with Brian Slattery and Joseph Dejarnette (aka Joe Bass). More great fiddling on Friday night when Rob Hecht plays the Bowery Ballroom. He'll also be at Two Boots on St Patrick's Day.

As always please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

Hello, and welcome to another week of Ponkiesburg Pickin'. It's the first Thursday of the month which means there's an old-time jam at Freddy's tonight. It's only once a month so get out there and play. You can also catch Blue Harvest at the Parkside, and there's the weekly jam at Jalopy as well.

Friday's a big night. Dance All Night, a new old-time band featuring Kari Denis on fiddle, Adam Buchwald on banjo, and more, will be playing at Jalopy, followed by Copper Kettle. Kari says they're going to play "Old-time, bluegrass, originals -- "lively and beautiful music that will make you want to stomp your feet and get up and dance." Meanwhile the Ebony Hillbillies and Michael Daves will be playing at Banjo Jim's.

Over the weekend we'll have the usual jams. Sunday night Rob Hecht's new band, Hechtograss, is playing at the Highline Ballroom. Well worth catching! On Monday night Jason Cade will be at Bar BQ with Fran Leadon and Jonah Bruno, while Copper Kettle plays the Parkside. And at Banjo Jim's, the reeds will be very free indeed with the New York Harmonica Ensemble, featuring Trip Henderson, Miguel Weissman, Randy Weinstein and Marcus Milius, with special guest Emily Eagen.

Teri Ann McLean wants you all to know that she's DJing on a new Internet radio station dedicated to bluegrass (http://www.bluegrassmix.com/) every Wednesday from 4-6, featuring a different NYC area band every week. They've got music 24 hours a day with live DJs for 20 of those hours.

And Brad Einhorn's new business has its web site up and running at http://www.kingscountystrings.com -- stop by and browse his collection of guitars and mandolins and other instruments of stringdom.

As always please let us know what's going on so we can feature it here. Send your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons to pickin@ponkiesburg.com by Wednesday for inclusion.

Hello everyone. It's the last Thursday of the month, so that means there's a CashHank tonight at Buttermilk in Park Slope. Bring all three chords and your instruments over there for a great time.

Tomorrow night is Kate Giampetruzzi's Leap Year Show, with an all- star cast of musicians plus great food. She'll be playing her gorgeous originals and some old classics, joined by Tone Johansen, Grits and Harmony and Trip Henderson and Emily Eagen, along with Brad Einhorn, Rick Shields, Charlie Shaw, David Gandin, and guest guitarist Danny Weiss. This will be a truly great show.

Jonah Bruno is hosting a show at Jalopy on Saturday night featuring none other than King Wilkie along with a ton of special guests. And of course there are the usual jams.

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

Hello everyone. This weekend is our baby shower for Doug and Virginia, during the Ponkiesburg jam at Kili on Sunday. Word has it there may be a very small and special guest at the festivities; stand by for more news. But please come and celebrate, and if you want to bring a gift, you can view their baby registry here:

http://www.babiesrus.com/ControllerServlet?registryNumber=71196804& target=search

In other news, congratulations to Charles and Greta on their wedding (no, I didn't know either, but it's great news), and to celebrate the occasion the Y'all Stars are pairing up with Andy Hunt for a great night of music at Googie's on Saturday. Also Saturday night, it's the Johnny Cash 75th Birthday Bash at Southpaw. Buy your tickets now and put on your best party black.

And tonight is the Kings County Opry, featuring the song circle with our own Pablo Conrad along with David Stephens and Dock Oscar, as well as sets from Melody Allegra Berger and Copper Kettle, who is said to have a new CD in the works.

Tony Delello joins Teri McLean for a duo set of her originals at the Parkside on Monday, and Ben Fraker and Jen Larson join Jason Cade on Tuesday night at Bar BQ in Park Slope, and of course the usual suspects will be picking at the usual spots this week.

And! Next Friday, Kate Giampetruzzi celebrates Leap Day with a very special show at Sunny's, featuring not only her gorgeous originals, not only some great bluegrass, but also special guests including Tone Johansen, Grits and Harmony and Trip Henderson and Emily Eagen. Kate's band will feature Tone and Trip along with Brad Einhorn, Rick Shields, Charlie Shaw, David Gandin, guest guitarist Danny Weiss, and me. I'm very much looking forward to this show and all this great music.

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

The weekend is coming so open up those cases and get ready to play and/or see some music. You're not lacking for opportunities!

Don't forget: we're about to welcome a new picker into the world sometime soon, thanks to Doug Hatt and Virginia Worley. We're going to host a co-ed baby shower for them at Kili on Sunday, February 24. They're registered here:

http://www.babiesrus.com/ControllerServlet?registryNumber=71196804&target=search

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

So, even though it's warm and almost humid outside, this weekend is the Brooklyn Winter Hoedown. Lots of great bands, all at Superfine. Details at http://brooklyncountrymusic.com/hoedown4.html or in the calendar below.

Also this week, you can perhaps go look at yourself hanging on the wall at Superfine; Kimberlee Piper and Gary Winter are opening an exhibit of their photos at Superfine, called Where the Dirt Road Meets the Asphalt. Blue Harvest will provide the music for the opening tomorrow night, and the photos will be up through February 24.

Smokey Hormel is at Sunny's on Friday night, and Striaght Drive at Banjo Jim's on Saturday. Also Saturday, Sarah Thornton will be having a music party at her place in Crown Heights. Bring some songs, some snacks, and a cushion since she doesn't have that many chairs.

Jams galore in Brooklyn. The Angel Band jam happens tonight in Park Slope, and there's another new jam in Williamsburg on Saturday afternoons, apparently. The more the merrier! And of course tonight is the Sheriff's jam, Saturday is Sunny's, and Sunday is the Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party and the Paddy Reilly jam hosted by Tony Delillo.

And, you may know that we will be welcoming a new picker into the world sometime soon, thanks to Doug Hatt and Virginia Worley. We're going to host a co-ed baby shower for them at Kili on Sunday, February 24. They're registered here:

http://www.babiesrus.com/ControllerServlet?registryNumber=71196804&target=search

Although I note a suspicious lack of guitar tuners, capos and extra strings on the list. Hmm. In any case, come celebrate their good news with all of us.

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

Special note this week: There is no Ponkiesburg Pickin' Party this week. That's right, on Sunday, February 3, there will be no jam at Kili, since it would conflict with the Super Duper Bowl, the traditional gladitorial spectacle in which we select our Presidential nominees. So remember, NO JAM AT KILI ON SUNDAY. (And seriously, do get out to vote on Tuesday, which is primary day in New York.)

But we've no lack for music! This week is the ACTUAL last Thursday, which means there really is a CasHank at Buttermilk tomorrow night. John Pinamonti is at Sunny's on Friday, Blue Harvest is at Jalopy, and Rob Ryan is having a send-off at the Rodeo Bar.

Saturday there's a special show at Jalopy featuring one-half of the Otis Brothers (namely, Raoul), otherwise known as Bob Guida, along with Steve Uhrik, Peter Kohman and Mike Saccolitti.

Monday, Copper Kettle is at the Parkside, followed by Michael Daves' jam, and then Michael is playing again on Tuesday at Rockwood, while Fresh Baked will be at Abilene.

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

Hello everyone. It's another weekend jam-packed with good music, and music-packed with good jams. Tonight is the CasHoot Hankenanny Jamboree, or is that the HootHank Cashenanny? Whatever it is, it's lots of good old four-chord country music at Buttermilk, 5th Ave and 13th Street. Bring your instrument and you can play too if you can find room on the stage. It's a blast. Fun, too.

The Mud Brothers are playing at Sunny's on Friday night, and as Mojo says there is a new art exhibit up, so take a look at that. Saturday night the Y'All Stars are playing a too-rare show at Googie's, with Miz Liz and the Vipers starting the evening off at 7:30. Also on Saturday night, Michael Daves and Jen Larson are playing at Banjo Jim's.

This newsletter attempts to go out every Wednesday, so send us your gig notices, myspace bulletins, facebook posts and carrier pigeons by Wednesday for inclusion.

Thanks to Anina for alerting us that there's a new jam in town on Wednesday nights in Park Slope, at a place called Vin Rouge. Too late to make it over there this week, but it's called the "Angel Band" jam. See the calendar below for details. Otherwise, it's the usual jams and lots of good shows of course.

Hello. We have a quick weekend update to add some more shows and to let you know about a change for Monday.

Tonight at Banjo Jim's Eli Smith is putting on a big show featuring American String Conspiracy, Alex Battle's Whisky Rebellion, Vincent Cross and Good Company, Rolf Hamsen. And out in Hoboken the Second Fiddles are playing with David Bennet Cohen joining them on piano.

Also tonight, Abigail Washburn is bringing her Sparrow Quartet to BB King's. It's her with Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee on cello, and their show at Joe's Pub last night was absolutely incredible. (http://photos.kenficara.com/sparrow) It's an early show (7:30) so you can still make the local gigs after you, but it'll cost ya!

Also please note: The Jonah and Jordan show, follwed by Terri Ann Mclean and Hi Rise, are at the Parkside *NEXT* Monday, the 21st. This Monday, the 14th, Copper Kettle plays at 7:30 followed by The Shade.

Please send your emails (or MySpace bulletins) by Wednesday for inclusion to pickin@ponkiesburg.com, and if you have any trouble write me directly at pickin-owner at ponkiesburg.com.

Hello everyone. Glad we're done with winter. Seems like it gets shorter every year, doesn't it? I'm on the road this week so I will leave most of the details to Mojo, or check the calendar below!

Please send your emails (or MySpace bulletins) by Wednesday for inclusion to pickin@ponkiesburg.com, and if you have any trouble write me directly at pickin-owner at ponkiesburg.com.

Happy new year, everyone! Apologies for our absence last week, but newsletters get holiday vacations just like everyone else. However, I'm sorry that some of you went down to Kili on Sunday and found no jam, but we'll be back there this coming Sunday and I'll buy you a drink if you made the trip last week.

But we're back in force this week with a LOT to tell you about. So much that I know I'm going to miss some great music this weekend no matter what, but that's not a bad problem to have.

Tonight, of course, there will be Good Times with the Sheriff of such at the Baggott. Meanwhile Jonah Bruno will be out in Brooklyn at Bar BQ with the South Slope String Band.

Tomorrow night, Reckon So is going to be at Banjo Jim's, with a special guest -- Larry Campbell, who's played with lots of luminaries including Bob Dylan. If you'd rather play than watch, you can head to either Freddy's or Jalopy for a jam.

Friday night (and from the looks of it, Saturday morning), Jonah Bruno is hosting an all-star all-night tribute to John Hartford at Jalopy. This promises to be pretty amazing. On the bill will be Jones Street Boys, Dawn Breakers, Alex Harvey, Toby and Casey King, Josh Stacy, Tom Bailey, Jen Larson, Doug Hatt, Joe Choina, Jake Tilove, John Fletcher, Brian Hollander, Charles Puckett, Sarah Alden, Harris Wulfson, Brad Einhorn, Five Deadly Venoms, Audra Tsanos, Jennifer Milich, Tom Bierowski and (really) more. And the house band looks pretty hot too.

Also on Friday, Kate Giampetruzzi will be playing Sunny's, joined by some special guests including Tone Johansen, Rick Shields, Trip Henderson and Emily Eagen, Charlie Shaw, Kari Denis and myself. We'll be doing some of Kate's beautiful new originals, some Kate&Lou tunes, and some traditional songs.

Andy Cartoun also informs us that legendary bass player Mike Bub will be in town for two shows with alt-country songwriter Jimmy Stewart, one at the Rodeo Bar on Friday night and the other at the Living Room on Saturday night.

Sunday night, fiddler Rob Hecht will bring his Irreducible Rascalities to the Living Room. The band includes Tuey Connell, Ross Martin and Jim Whitney, and they'll be doing some originals. They're all great, creative players so check it out.

Monday is the first Monday of the month, which means Michael Daves' jam will be at the Parkside, preceded by Sheriff Uncle Bob and Friends. And you know the Sheriff has a LOT of friends, so don't miss it.

Tuesday, rest up, because you'll be out late at the Baggott on Wednesday. And we'll tell you what's happening next week; please send your emails (or MySpace bulletins) by Wednesday for inclusion to pickin@ponkiesburg.com, and if you have any trouble write me directly at pickin-owner at ponkiesburg.com.